Friday’s public hearing on the D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s omnibus crime bill is at noon at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (Image: D.C. Council Web site.)

The Judiciary Committee of the D.C. Council holds a public hearing at noon this Friday, December 5, on Mayor Adrian Fenty’s crime bill. The hearing is at the John A. Wilson Building and members of the public can sign up to provide testimony and/or submit written statements (details follow). Fenty introduced Bill 17-951, the “Omnibus Anti-Crime Amendment Act of 2008” on October 6.

The crime bill has eight different sections. However, the Friday public hearing will deal with only three portions of the bill: penalties and sentencing related to gun crimes; establishment of anti-gang provisions; and establishment of certain witness protection provisions. (more…)

Borderstanians: In addition to the two gun robberies on Thanksgiving Eve in Borderstan, there have been a number of violent street crimes in the past two weeks, some involving guns, just west of Borderstan. The crimes have been concentrated north of Dupont Circle between 17th and 20th Streets and R and T Streets NW.

The following information about these crimes is from MPD Lt. Erich Miller, PSA 208.

Details: Complainant reports he was walking in the block when the suspect approached him from the rear, pointed a silver colored gun at him and demanded his property. Suspect fled on foot. Police believe there may be a connection between this crime and the street robbery that occured about 75 minutes earlier at 1617 15th Street in Borderstan.

Details: Case closed with arrest of three suspects. The complainant reports he was walking in the block and was approached from behind by three suspects. All three suspects knocked the complainant to the ground and started punching him. The suspects fled on foot and were apprehended by Officer Mike Smith, PSA 208. The complainant was treated at George Washington Hospital for his injuries.

Three Arrested: Arrested were one adult and two juveniles. The adult is identified as Joshua Fortson, Black Male, DOB: 7/24/89. His address of record is 1119 Stevens Road SE. The two juveniles arrested are 15- and 17-years old and live in the vicinity of the arrested adult suspect; their names cannot be released because they are juveniles.

Details: Complainant reports while walking in the block a group of six males jumped him from behind and began punching him. The complainant sustained a laceration to his forehead and was treated at George Washington University Hospital.

Lookout: A general lookout was provided for six black males in their late teens to early ’20s.

Details: Female complainant reports she was walking in the block when two suspects approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground. The suspects attempted to grab the complainant’s bag, but fled before taking possession of it. The suspects fled on foot northbound on 18th Street.

Nov. 25-Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today results of the citywide All Hands on Deck (AHOD) Phase IV, which began at 6 am Friday, November 21, and continued through 6 am on Sunday, November 23, 2008. This AHOD was a citywide effort involving various DC government agencies including the Department of Human Services, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Employment Services among other agencies that followed up with clients already in their systems and made referals to address residents’ needs throughout the city.

Assault occurred in the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave. NW on 11/15/2008 between 2:25-2:30 am. Citizen reports he was assaulted following a verbal altercation. CASE CLOSED with the arrest of an Asian male, 26 years of age.

Burglary occurred in the 1700 block of R St. NW between 11/15/2008 6 pm-11/17/2008 6:45 am. Citizen reports the premises entered with force and cash was stolen from the office.

Theft occurred in the 2000 block of L St. NW on 11/15/2008, 10 am-2 pm. Citizen reports cell phones were stolen from the store by unknown suspect.

Theft occurred in the 1500 block of K St. NW on 11/17/2008 between 3-3:10pm. Citizen reports that a wallet, cash and credir cards were stolen from an office when left unattended.

Attempted Theft occurred in the 2100 block of M St. NW on 11/17/2008 at 5:38 am. Citizen reports the suspect, a black male, 5’7, 150 lbs. went behind the counter of the store and attempted to steal cash. Suspect fled without property when the clerk returned.

The second Borderstan Neighbors public safety meeting was last Thursday, November 13. Representatives of the Second and Third police districts, Councilmember Jack Evans (Ward 2) and ANC Commissioner Jack Jacobson (ANC2B-04) attended, along with about 35 Borderstanians. A recap of the meeting is coming this week.

Here are the Borderstan crime stats for August through October 2006, 2007 and 2008. Borderstan encompasses the area from P to S and 14th to 16th Streets NW. It is split between PSA 208 (west of 15th) and PSA 307 and between the Dupont Circle (ANC 2B) and Logan Circle (ANC 2F) neighborhoods.

Crimes that occurred within 1,000 feet
of 15th Street and Corcoran Streets NW
between August 1 and October 31 for 2006, 2007 and 2008

Many people likely recall the “parking wars” that have plagued the Logan Circle neighborhood over the past several years. A quick primer goes something like this: Logan is home to both a goodly number of residents and a goodly number of churches. Since many of these churches are located along otherwise residential blocks, parking on Sundays (and other days, depending upon the schedule of the church) can be a bit messy. OK, sometimes more than a bit. It’s not uncommon to drive along R St., 13th St., Vermont Ave. and other streets on Sunday mornings and see a number of cars blocking alleys, driveways, intersections, handicapped ramps, and so on.

The monthly community meeting of MPD’sPolice Service Area (PSA) 208 is this Tuesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. Location is the Third District Police Station (even though PSA 208 is part of the MPD’s Second District) at 1620 V Street NW. Meetings usually run 90 minutes to two hours. These monthly meetings are helpful for residents and police alike, giving everyone a chance to talk about public safety concerns, pass along information and get to know one another. West Borderstan (west of 15th Street) is part of PSA 208. However, East Borderstanians (PSA 307) are VERY welcome to attend. In fact, your participation is encouraged.

D.C. police say they are seeing a growing number of teenagers and young adults traveling in groups to assault and rob unsuspecting citizens, a trend that mirrors crimes in cities across the country.

In an eight-hour period last week, five people were attacked by juveniles in separate incidents, including an armed carjacking, in the Southwest waterfront neighborhood. And in the past month, there have been between seven and 11 “pack robberies” in or near Adams Morgan in Northwest Washington, Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said.

The following crime occured just outside the borders of Borderstan. Kingman Place runs north to south from P to Q, between 13th and 14th Streets NW. Around 9 p.m. on Friday, October 3, there was a carjacking on the 1500-block of Kingman Place NW. The following information is from MPD Assistant Chief of Police Diane Groomes via the 3rd District Yahoo! Groups listserv:

Sat Oct 4, 2008 7:20 am (PDT)

The Third District had a reported carjacking in the 1500 blk of Kingman PL at approximately 9pm… officers responded to the area to take the report as others canvassed for the carjacked vehicle… 3d, 5d and Gun unit were able to find the carjacked vehicle that was occupied by 4 suspects and a brief pursuit was initiated.. the suspects threw a weapon out on New York Ave (which was recovered) and then bailed out at 1st and Florida… 3 suspects were apprehended and charged with carjacking… it was a great job by MPD….

Early details on a shooting that occured late this afternoon. The incident occured in the rear of 1433 T Street NW. which is a large apartment building on the north side of the street. According to MPD Assistant Chief of Police Diane Groomes, “2 males shot in rear of 1433 T St… one drove themself to hospital… the one taken off scene by ambulance has died… no motive yet… still interviewing witnesses.”

Thanks to Groomes and Mark Cater, Acting Commaner for MPD’s 2nd District, for their rapid response to my request for information.

While I am not big on statistics, there are a place and purpose for them. Because from where I stand, even one is too many, especially if you are that one victim. I invite community members to look at the overall picture.The underpinnings of communication, responsibility and accountability are solidly in place. The neighborhood and the police are cooperating to address the root causes of crime in the community in an unprecedented fashion.

Keep in mind, this undertaking has been, is and will always be a work in progress. The real perfection is not in the overall percentage reduction of crime, but rather in in the process itself.